trying to mount a winch

**Mechanic688** · 08-06-2013, 10:14 PM

You might make a bar to drop into the two stake pockets before you start pulling something heavy. Might help keep the sides from spreading. Just something steel that you can drop in and remove when your done.

**Jvcr1** · 08-08-2013, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by bigdog72

got it rigged up, not too sure how it will handle big pulls but theres one way to find out! now I can finally get my one car back on the trailer

Looks like a recipe for disaster to me, ...any serious pulling should be linked to the frame somehow.
Mind you, I've seen some smaller ATV size winches mounted at the front of the box to metal channels , ..ie backrack or home made varient.
but those were intended to pull things like larger roadkill into the box or smaller items that might weight <1000 lbs (guessing on the weight here)
Sheet metal will not hold up to the loads (cars, etc) you're intending, unless you really want to start shopping for a replacement box

**bigdog72** · 08-08-2013, 08:41 AM

forgot to update yesturday, it didn't really pan out how I thought. it started to bend the rails if it something heavy it could have been bad but I got the car loaded eventually. luckily for me its a work truck and I don't really care what happens to the bed since when I got it, it was all dented up
i

**cummins** · 08-08-2013, 12:41 PM

Call the wreckers get a.hitch.cut off, weld it on your tounge, make sure u raise it up so the winch line is an inch above the deck or so

**DiamondN** · 08-08-2013, 01:37 PM

While working at a restoration shop a few years ago, we had a pretty cool winch setup on the company truck. It was a late 80's or early 90's F350 4x4, and even being stock, set fairly high. The shop owner had mounted his winch up under the bed between the rear frame rails. I don't remember exactly how he had it mounted, but the cool part was that it was lined up right behind the license plate on his step bumper. After cutting some hidden access holes, he then had the license plate mounted on an old style spring loaded hinge mount.
It worked out good as we could use any of the car haulers, but the winch was always with the truck. Also, being completely hidden behind the bumper and license plate, meant little chance of it being stolen.

**bigdog72** · 08-08-2013, 08:49 PM

diamond, that sounds like an awesome Idea, my guess is it was attached to the frame then? I think on my truck it would be to low.
cummins I would but it's not my trailer haha I might be able to do some kind of deck mount but I'd have to check with my buddy

**taterjuice** · 08-09-2013, 07:31 AM

Heres how tater rocks his winch

A semi battery chills in the battery box, bought for scrap price of course.

Quick connect that runs up to the battery

Constant duty solenoid so the 2 ga cable running to the quick connect isn't "hot" all the time. Also shut it down while winching, just run off the semi battery, as winches draw stupid high amounts of juice and given enough time usually fry batteries and alternators, ask me how I know this!
And why go to all this trouble ? Heres why !

Not a tire one on that car and my hf winch hardly even bogged down! And this is why I won't use the receiver hitch mounted winch plate, not sturdy enough for the stuff I do!

**bigdog72** · 08-10-2013, 08:02 PM

very nice, so does the winch run just off the semi battery then? or do you keep the truck running when you winch

**taterjuice** · 08-10-2013, 11:22 PM

Just off the semi battery when winching, usually fully charged semi battery will winch half dozen cars, provided tires on still on them, with juice left to spare. I let the battery charge off the pickup while going down the highway for an hour or so and it's usually good to go. Semi batteries aren't very expensive new either, I can get a new continental for a lil over a bill.

**Ecycle Atlanta** · 08-11-2013, 04:46 AM

Originally Posted by bigdog72

forgot to update yesturday, it didn't really pan out how I thought. it started to bend the rails if it something heavy it could have been bad but I got the car loaded eventually. luckily for me its a work truck and I don't really care what happens to the bed since when I got it, it was all dented up
i

If you don't care what happens to the bed, you could get 2 - 6' lengths of sturdy steel square tubing or even thick angle. Lay them in the bed and drill through and mount them to the rails under the bed with long threaded bolts (at least 3-4 per side to avoid sheer). Then mount your winch on a steel plate, which then mounts to the steel brackets. Not sure how the frame is set up on your truck if this would work. If it does, you can easily take it out of the bed and the brackets would be able to be removed fairly easily too. This would also raise it up off the truck bed a few inches so the cable wont drag. Or you could leave the brackets in the bed and when you want the truck for hauling just put a piece of plywood down for a flat surface.

Either that or find a mounting plate for a 5th wheel and modify it to fit a winch.

**bigdog72** · 08-11-2013, 06:24 AM

tater my dad drives truck for a living so we have a couple of those batteries around haha

shendog, I'll have to look into that idea

**cummins** · 08-11-2013, 11:10 AM

We do alot of removals for farmers, I dragged a f150 with just axels a foot in the mud rhe other day I had no problem, I think I might of cooked my winch battery, but no twisting or anything, just have to make sure when over 5k your winching staight,

**cummins** · 08-11-2013, 08:45 PM

I came across this video, this is how we delt with our winch on our last trailer and its what i will be doing on my new trailer, just welding the receiver on the tongue

**bigdog72** · 08-11-2013, 10:06 PM

I think I watched that one, and I wouldn't have an issue if it was my trailer haha it would be mounted and pulling cars but its not that easy, my main goal is something to be used on multiply trailers with little to no swapping